Signing Pudge makes no long-term sense

January 29, 2004

Meet Ivan Rodriguez. Meet the future.

Now, meet the past.

Years ago, Tiger own Mike Ilitch claimed he needed to build a new ballpark to be competitive.

The team got its new stadium, Comerica Park. Yet today, they're as far from being competitive as I am from the PGA Tour. And I've been to high school basketball games where there are more fans in the gym than attended a lot of Tiger games at Comerica Park in 2003.

When the park opened in 2000, the Tiger brass' philosophy was this: We're going to build from the ground up, through the minors, and we're going to build a foundation of speed and defense in our new, spacious ballpark.

That sounded good. I mean, after all, the Tigers are what is known as a small-market team in Major League Baseball parlance. A new park was supposed to draw fans by the busload, and the money generated would go to the team coffers to build its foundation.

Advertisement

Then, by the blueprint, when the Tigers became competitive and a serious contender for the playoffs, there would be enough money around to sign some free agents that would help put them into the postseason.

But just when some of those youngsters with potential were coming along (Gabe Kapler, Frank Catalanotto, among others), they were shipped away in the magnificent trade swung by boy wonder general manager Randy Smith for petulant All-Star Juan Gonzalez.

So much for sticking with the plan.

Gonzalez arrived in Detroit on a day much like what we have today - look out your window, venture out the door, if you dare - and decided that was it for him. He dogged it for a season and left when his contract was up. He never, ever, wanted to come to Detroit, and he certainly didn't want to stay when he got there. The Tigers dangled a $160 million contract in front of him, and he said no mas. Instead, he signed with Cleveland for a year, and is now back in Texas.

Now, lets get on to today.

The Tigers are poised to sign Rodriguez to a four-year, $40 million deal that may include an option year for another 10 mil.

You've heard about the recent past. Here's the future. Think the result will be any different?

First, Pudge is not worth $40 million for four years. Maybe $22 million for two years, $29 million for three. But a 32-year-old catcher, even the best of his generation and a 10-time Gold Glove winner, isn't worth what the Tigers have offered. Not even close.

What baseball player is worth that kind of money? What baseball player is worth half that, or a million a year, for that matter? That's a discussion for another time. Let me say this, however, the bottom line is, in America, if you can get it, you're worth it. End of story.

Now let's move on.

Rodriguez signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Florida Marlins before last season, then led them to the World Series, where they beat the Yankees (ah, didn't that feel good?).

Are the Tigers now suddenly going to go from 43-119 - remember, that's the worst record in American League history - to the World Series?

Pu-leeze.

Once past the age of 30, catchers tend to physically decline - rather quickly, I might add - both at the plate and behind it. What will Pudge add in 2006 and '07, and, possibly, '08?

The Tigers' luck or wisdom - you pick the term - with signing big-name, big-money free agents to long-term deals has been abysmal. Recall Dean Palmer, Damion Easley and Mike Moore? And their blockbuster trade (Back to Juan Gone) sent them into a skid from which they still have not recovered.

This year's class of Tiger free agent signees gives the team some legitimate Major Leaguers for a change. Rondell White, Carlos Guillen, Fernando Vina and Jason Johnson - not a one of 'em is headed to Cooperstown, but they give the Tigers some pop in a lineup, a potential solid veteran starter, and an air of professionalism that has been sorely lacking in the recent past.

Add Pudge to the mix, and you'd have the best catcher in baseball, for one year, maybe two. Then what, will he make is way to first base? Designated hitter? The outfield.

I doubt the Tigers have thought that far down the road. After all, they've shown in the past decade just how committed they can be to a plan. Yeah, right.

On the surface, signing Pudge makes the Tigers look good, like they are going to be a player in the free agent market.

But the Tigers, unlike say, the Yankees, don't have a bottomless pit of money from which to sign players. What they are proposing to pay Pudge will be a major percentage of their payroll for years to come.

Hey, I say take the 40 or 50 mil you want to throw at Pudge and get yourself more Whites, more Guillens, more Vinas, and let the young players, particularly the pitchers and incumbent catcher Brandon Inge, develop.

In 2008, Pudge will be a very, very wealthy - no, make that more wealthy - man. And, he'll be preparing his acceptance speech for the Hall of Fame.